Pattern selecting mechanism



Feb. 4, 1969 F- C. WIESINGER PATTERN SELECT 1N6 MECHANISM Filed June 23, 1967 Sheet I N VE N T 0 R FREDERICK C WIESINGER.

ATTORNEY vFeb. 4, 1969 c, w|E$|NGER 3,425,243 I PATTERN SELECTING MECHANISM Sheet Filed June 23, 1967 INVENTOR FREDERICKQWIESINGER QMQW ATTORNEY United States Patent US. CI. 66-50 Int. Cl. D04b 15/74 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pattern selecting mechanism for a knitting machine having a means for increasing the number of selecting levers actuated by an endless strip pattern of conventional width, thereby permitting an increase in the num ber of knitting instrumentalities normally utilized in such machines.

Background of the invention The invention relates to an improvement in the pattern mechanism for independent needle knitting machines of the type which utilize perforated endless pattern strips or tapes that are continuously advanced by means of drums individual thereto having helical slots which become aligned with the perforations in said tapes.

As is well known to those familiar with the knitting art, this form of patterning includes a plurality of selecting levers having spring biased detents or pattern feeler members which are adapted to function in cooperation with each perforated tape and its respective drum. As a drum advances its tape, the pattern feeler members of the levers to be selected align with said tapes perforations causing said feeler members to pass therethrough and into the grooves of the drum. Continued rotation of the drum moves the selected levers inwardly toward the needle cylinder to a position where they are pivoted downwardly by a rotating cam causing a raising lever to pivot and elevate a jack individual thereto to an active level.

With the known forms of pattern drums and their respective endless strip patterns, the selecting levers are disposed in such a manner that their feeler members are positioned in side by side relation across the width of the strip pattern forming a line which extends parallel with the axes of the drums.

This arrangement of selecting levers limits the number thereof which can be selected by a given drum and limits the so-called cut of the machine, or in other words, the number of knitting instrumentalities per inch carried by the cylinder.

To add additional selecting levers with this arrangement would position the perforations in the strip pattern for these levers much too close to the perforations for adjacent levers. This would present a very undesirable condition for additional perforations in a single row would weaken the strip pattern and the very narrow sections between the perforations would be easily torn resulting in replacement of the pattern far sooner than the life expectancy thereof.

With this form of patterning it has long been desirous to produce finer gage fabrics by increasing the number of knitting instrumentalities which may be selected by a single pattern drum.

The improved pattern selecting mechanism according to the instant invention provides a means for utilizing a substantially greater number of selecting levers within the conventional width of a strip pattern thereby permitting an equal number of knitting instrumentalities to be operably carried by the cylinder.

For example, a 30 inch diameter knitting machine with the known form of patterningis provided with 24 pattern drums and each drum is capable of accommodating a maximum of 56 selecting levers. This provides the machine with a 14% cut or a maximum of 1344 possible single needle selections for the entire machine.

The improved pattern selecting mechanism with the same size knitting machine and with the conventional number of pattern drums increases the machines cut to 18% or a possible selection of 1,728 needles and results in an increase of 16 additional selecting levers for each pattern drum;

Knitting machines having pattern selecting mechanisms that utilize helically grooved pattern drums and endless strip patterns with perforations arranged to register with the grooves of said drums are well known to' those conversant with this art and an example of such a machine according to the prior art and over which the present invention is an improvement is evidenced in United States Patent Re. 24,912.

Summary of the invention The pattern drums which form a part of the instant invention are provided with pairs of juxtaposed slots disposed in spaced relation about the drums and they extend helically relative to the axes thereof.

The endless strip patterns or pattern cards are provided with double rows of perforations which are arranged to register with each pair of slots in the drums as the latter are rotated. The double rows of perforations in the pattern cards are alternately arranged, that is to say, the perforations in a single row of any given pair are disposed in spaced relation to and intermediate those of the other row of that pair.

The pattern feeler members of a row of selecting levers for a pattern drum are disposed in allochiral relation across the width of the pattern card, or in other words, the alternate levers have their feeler members arranged to align with one row of perforations and the intermediate levers have their feeler members positioned to align with the other row of perforations of the same pair.

The feeler members of the selecting levers and perforations in the pattern cards being arranged in this manner permits utilization of additional levers with each pattern'drum and a pattern card with sufficient space between the perforations to minimize the possibility of tearing out the sections therebetween.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a section taken through a portion of a circular knitting machine to which the invention has been applied;

FIG. 2 is a view partially in section and on a slightly larger scale of a portion of the selecting mechanism shown in BIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pattern drum showing the pairs of spaced slots disposed about said drum; and

FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of a pattern card showing the arrangement of the perforations therein.

Description of the preferred embodiment Now referring to the figures of drawing enough of a circular knitting machine is shown in FIG. 1 to serve as a basis for a detailed description of the invention applied thereto.

This improved pattern selecting mechanism is applicable to practically any independent needle knitting machine in which extensive pattern work is to be done and is here shown in a double cylinder machine (lower cylinder only shown).

The lower cylinder is shown at 10 and is slotted to act as a needle bed for the conventional double hooked needles 11 which are directly controlled at their lower ends by sliders 12 having butts 13.

The knitting machine shown in FIG. 1 is of the rotatable cam, fixed cylinder type and the cylinder is fixed to a base member 14 which in turn is part of a more complete supporting frame.

A disc element 15 is supported for rotation in a fixed bearing ring 16 and provides the means for supporting the usual cam sections 17 and 18- the latter of which control selected jacks 19 by means of their butts 20.

The pattern selecting mechanism is of the Jacquard type and includes a pattern drum 21 which is continuously rotated about its axis 22.

It should be understood that several of these selecting mechanisms are disposed about the machine and since they all perform a like function only one has been shown for a detailed description thereof.

The drum is provided adjacent each end with a plurality of sprocket teeth 23 evenly and radially disposed about the drum which in a known manner serve to advance an endless strip pattern or pattern card 24 having holes 25 along each side thereof into which said sprocket teeth are adapted to pass as said pattern card is advanced.

The pattern drum further includes a plurality of pairs of juxtaposed slots 26 which extend helically relative to the axis of the drum with the spacing between adjacent pairs of slots being greater than the distance between the individual slots of any of said pairs (FIG. 3).

The pattern card 24 is provided across its width with perforations formed in accordance with some desired pattern and said perforations are disposed in double rows 27 which are adapted to align with the pairs of slots 26 during advancement of the pattern card. The double rows of perforations 27 are alternately arranged, that is to say, the perforations which are adapted to align with one of the pair of slots in the drum are disposed in spaced relation to and intermediate the perforations that are adapted to align with the other slot of that pair.

A plurality of selecting levers are pivoted at 28 (FIG. 1) and are adapted to slide radially of the machine for a short distance during the performance of their intended function. The alternate levers are identified in FIGS. 1 and 2 by numeral 30 and the intermediate levers by numeral 31 and said levers include spring biased detents or feeler members which are depicted by numerals 32 and 33, respectively.

These feeler member 32 and 33 are disposed in allochiral relation across the width of the pattern card 24 and as the latter is caused to advance feeler members 32 are caused to sense the perforations which align with one of the pair of slots 26 and feeler members 33 sense the perforations which align with the other slot of said pair.

The outer ends of the selecting levers 30 and 31 terminate in hook-like projections 34 and 35, respectively (FIGS. 1 and 2). Coil springs 36 (FIG. 2) having one end attached to these projections and their opposite ends to a bracket 37 serve to continually urge the selecting levers toward their inactive position.

The inner ends of the selecting levers are slotted in the usual manner as at 38 in FIG. 1 and when said levers are selected they move a short distance inwardly toward the needle cylinder which places these slotted portions in the pathway of a lever control cam 39. This cam is supported by a stud 40 that depends from the disc element 15 and as the latter rotates it moves the cam 39 through the slotted end of a selected lever pivoting it downwardly. As shown in FIG. 1 the lower inner end of a selecting lever contacts the outer end of a lifting lever 41 when actuated and the latter is pivoted at 42. This motion raises the inner end of the lifting lever which in turn elevates the jack 19 individual thereto to an active level.

In operation the pattern drum is caused to rotate continuously in a known manner and as a pair of slots 26 become aligned with the feeler members 32 and 33 the latter will enter their respective slots providing a perforation is present in the pattern card. Continued rotaion of the pattern drum will move the selected levers inwardly to be acted upon by the control cam 39 which in turn pivots the lifting lever that elevates the jacks 19 individual to said levers selected.

When the inner end of the selected levers are pivoted downwardly their feeler members are withdrawn from the slots in the drum and when contact between the control cam and said levers is lost, coil springs 36 are effective in returning the levers to their initial position.

The various selecting levers are selected according to the perforations present on the pattern card which are formed in accordance with some desired pattern; however, due to the allochiral arrangement of the perforations and feeler members it is possible to select every selecting lever of a single pattern drum.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine having a needle cylinder, knitting instrumentalities operably carried in said cylinder and selecting means functioning upon said instrumentalities to move them from a non-selected to a selected position which includes:

(a) a pattern drum having pairs of juxtaposed slots disposed in spaced relation about said drum and which extend helically relative to the axis thereof, the spacing between adjacent pairs of said slots being greater than the distance between the individual slots of any of said pairs,

(b) sprocket teeth at each end of the drum radially and evenly disposed therearound,

(c) an endless strip pattern having adjacent its edges a series of sprocket holes for engaging said sprocket teeth which advance said strip pattern,

(d) pattern determining perforations in said strip pattern adapted to register with said pairs of juxtaposed slots during advancement thereof, and

(e) a plurality of pattern feeler members disposed in allochiral relation across the width of said pattern strip and positioned to ride upon the latter and to enter said perforations and slots when becoming aligned therewith.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein each of said feeler members includes a selecting lever for transmitting the dictates of said strip pattern to said knitting instrumentalities.

3. The mechanism according 0 claim 2 wherein the feeler members of alternate selecting levers are positioned to be affected by perforations registered with one of the slots of said pairs and the feeler members of the intermediate selecting levers are positioned to be affected by the perforations that register with the other slot of that pair.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WM. CARTER REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 66-156 

